MRCHA's New Pilot Helicopter Setup and Flight Instruction

In keeping with MRCHA's 'mission statement' of promoting the hobby of RC helicopters and increasing the skills and knowledge of pilots, one of MRCHA's primary goals is to help new pilots learn helicopter setup and basic flying skills in the Twin Cities metro area. There are several resources MRCHA has to achieve this.

For All Pilots -The following resources are available to all pilots, whether they are MRCHA dues paying members or not:

• Monthly Club Meetings - Help is usually available at the monthly MRCHA meetings which are often (but not always depending on room availability) at 7pm on the first Tuesday of the month. Check upcoming events or alternatively the MRCHA president will send out a reminder on the MRCHA Yahoo group email list.
• Web Links - On the MRCHA home page Main Menu is a hyperlink called 'Web Links'. This has useful links to other RC heli web resources, local hobby shops, flight simulators and other clubs and organizations.
• Weekly Winter Indoor Fly Sessions - Craig Rees runs weekly indoor flying sessions, usually on Saturday around noon but it depends on the indoor openings. These are usually at a high school gym but we are always looking at other options. This is a great place to get advice and to fly in controlled conditions. Smaller helis like the Trex 450 and under only, no nitro! We always post a schedule on the MRCHA calendar and upcoming events (upper right corner of the front page).
• MRCHA Yahoo Groups Forum - If you join the MRCHA Yahoo Groups forum you will not only be informed of all MRCHA events but can post questions about your helicopter problems and usually there will be someone who can answer your question.
• Post Office Field - This is MRCHA's unofficial flying site. On a good day you will almost always find some pilots flying, especially after work hours or Saturday or Sunday after 12 noon. It helps to 'announce' your intention to go to the field and that you are looking for help on the Yahoo groups list. Most pilots at PO field are happy to help people with setup problems.
• MRCHA Fun Flies - All pilots are welcome to MRCHA fun flies, some require a 'landing fee' and some do not. Look under the Events menu item. MRCHA will often provide food and drink which are intended for dues paying members but available to all if there is enough food. Most pilots are happy to help people with setup problems.

MRCHA Members Only - The following resources are only made available to MRCHA dues paying members.

• MRCHA Website Forums - Like the Yahoo groups forum, MRCHA members can post questions on the MRCHA website forum. This forum is different than the Yahoo groups forum in that there are categories defined and threads are separated and easy to track. You can also post photos and other attachments (see forum rules for posting limits). If you want to edit your post or delete a post you have made, you can do so. We use this forum as a self-archiving 'library' and it is easy to search. In addition, each post on the website forum is 'reflected' to the Yahoo groups forum so it will go to everyone.
• MRCHA Club Roster - All of the MRCHA members and contact info are on the club roster which is on the MRCHA Member Menu on the left side of the MRCHA website.
• MRCHA Mentor List - We have started a MRCHA 'mentor' list available only to MRCHA dues paying members to avoid overloading the volunteer mentors. These volunteers have expressed willingness to help new pilots with setup and/or flying on certain helicopter or radio types (see details by each mentor). The location of the mentors and methods of contacting mentors are listed on the list which is on the MRCHA Member Menu on the left side of the MRCHA website.